Molecular Pic

You've no doubt read about the first picture of a molecule...

Single molecule, one million times smaller than a grain of sand, pictured for first time

I still remember thinking how cool the first "picture" of a molecule I ever saw from my copy of George Gamow's 1974 book, "One, Two, Three... Infinity: Facts And Speculations Of Science," which shows this photo of a hexamethylbenzene molecule...



Of course, molecules are very tricky to photograph, and my old photograph wasn't taken with one click of a camera, but involving multiple overlapping x-ray banding patterns that came together on one piece of photographic paper.

It's been a long time between these two photographs.

My point is that real science moves very slowly. I don't trust "science" that moves very quickly and without adequate peer review.

**cough** globalwarming **cough**

Bonk On The Head

Ouch.

Remember, if it is funny when it happens to republicans, then it's funny when it happens to democrats too.

Cat Blog Friday

For this Cat Blog Friday...

... I can't leave out the cats who boldly go where no felines have gone before... especially when you hide the kitty litter box ;-)

Happy Friday, everybody!

Trek Dog

Star Trek Dog Constume, Engage!

Now that is one enterprising dog costume...

National Day Of Service?

Obama's Plan To Desecrate 9/11

BO just wants to help change 9/11 from a day of remembrance into a day of national service, you know, something "positive," "forward-leaning," and "productive."

Look at just a few of organizations that support the change:

- Rev. Lennox Yeargood, President of the Hip Hop Caucus
- Color of Change
- ACORN
- AFL-CIO
- Apollo Alliance
- Community Action Partnership
- Deep South Center for Environmental Justice
- 80 Million Strong for Young American Jobs
- Friends of the Earth
- Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
- Mobilize.org
- National Black Police Association
- National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
- National Council of Negro Women
- National Wildlife Federation
- RainbowPUSH Coalition
- Urban League
- Young Democrats of America.

Yeah, right. Just a little change from "Never Forget" to "Fail To Remember".

Unbelievable.

What will you be doing on 9/11?

Vacay Bound

Respect My Pri-Vah-Ceh

There will be no tolerating reporters using cellphones to call or text friends with the president’s latest movements at Martha's Vineyard.

Maybe to avoid embarassing photos such as this one.

Yikes.

What A Cess Pool

Lockerbie Bomber
Flies Home To A Hero's Welcome

Why do so many from the Middle East not play well with others in the rest of the world?

Cat Blog Friday

For this Cat Blog Friday...

... a cat that's "all wee weed up"

Well maybe... I'm not sure what the expression means exactly.

Who cares?

Happy Friday, everybody!

Stardust Pays Off

From New Scientist comes this news...

Found: First Amino Acid On A Comet

NASA's Stardust Mission has found glycine, an amino acid that is one of the building blocks of life, in the tail debris of icy comet, Wild 2.

Fascinating.

Beware: Obamacare

You've all heard of the 60,000+ membership drop in AARP membership since July 1, 2009

Well now, from the Jewish World Review comes this insightful piece from long-time liberal, Nat Hentoff...

I Am Finally Scared Of A White House Administration

If he's scared of this administration, then we should all be scared.

First they come for the old, then they come for the infirmed, then they come for the middle aged, then they come for the inconvenient young...

When do they come for the ones who are loud and speak their minds?

Do the math, America.

Good Dog

This short video made me laugh out loud... really.

Definitely not one for BO fans who don't have a sense of humor... um, which is pretty much all of them ;-)

Cat Blog Friday

For this Cat Blog Friday...

... a collection of cute cat bloopers.

How can anyone not like cats?

Happy Friday, everybody!

Cheney Decloaks

If this source can be trusted...

Sources: Cheney Uncloaks Bush Frustration

Bush should've listened to Cheney. When you're dealing with liberals, reaching your hand across the aisle in conciliation will only get you a stump.

Les Paul 1915 - 2009

Legendary Guitarist And Forefather Of The Electric Guitar Les Paul Dead At 94

I'm musically-challenged myself, but I admire this man's tremendous contribution to music.

RIP Mr. Paul.

Gaffetastic

At first, I couldn't believe I heard what I thought I heard BO say in defense of Obamacare... and then I considered the source.

Heh heh.

"I mean, if you think about it, UPS and FedEx are doing just fine, right? No, they are. It's the post office that's always having problems." -- Barack Obama

The President and the Postal Service

Who needs a vast right wing conspiracy when BO is adept at single-handedly shooting down his single payer government-run health plan?

Heh heh.

BTW I ran across a busy blog that specializes in Obama's Gaffes, Lies, Broken Promises & Exaggerations! Blog

It's worth a laugh or three.

Meteor Shower

Heads up everybody. The Perseid meteor shower is about to peak. The show begins after sunset tonight and continues until dawn on Wednesday, August 12th. Sky watchers could see dozens of meteors per hour.

For more info...

The Perseids Are Coming

If you've never seen one, now's your chance. They are spectacular.

Can Cold Water Clean Dishes?

This is for all the germ conscious folks that worry about using cold water to clean.

John went to visit his 90 year old grandfather in a very secluded, rural area of Georgia.

After spending a great evening chatting the night away, John's grandfather prepared breakfast of bacon, eggs and toast. However, John noticed a film like substance on his plate, and questioned his grandfather asking, "Are these plates clean?"

His grandfather replied, "They're as clean as cold water can get them. Just you go ahead and finish your meal, Sonny!"

For lunch the old man made hamburgers. Again, John was concerned about the plates as his appeared to have tiny specks around the edge that looked like dried egg and asked, "Are you sure these plates are clean?"

Without looking up the old man said, "I told you before, Sonny, those dishes are as clean as cold water can get them. Now don't you fret, I don't want to hear another word about it!"

Later that afternoon, John was on his way to a nearby town and as he was leaving, his grandfather's dog started to growl, and wouldn't let him pass. John yelled and said, "Grandfather, your dog won't let me get to my car".

Without diverting his attention from the football game he was watching on TV, the old man shouted .

"COLDWATER, GO LAY DOWN!!!!"

Meet Coldwater...





[The BLOG note: I originally posted this in May 2006, but was inspired to bring it back after seeing a post about Tennessee Bird Dogs at crazy4coens blog Raising Sunny ]

Camelcide?

This belongs in the Learn Something New Every Day files...

Australia To Cull Outback Camels

I've always associated camels with the Middle East and didn't even know that Australia has over a million free-range camels which are threatening the ecological balance of the Outback.

I think everyone agrees the camels have to go, but the methods are in dispute.


[The BLOG note: The awesome photo used for illustrative purposes comes from the National Geographic site. The dark camels you see are really camel shadows. The real camels are the lighter areas below the camel shadows. Click on the photo and see for yourself.]

Forensic Follies

From Popular Mechanics comes this fascinating article that questions whether forensics has enough science...

CSI Myths: The Shaky Science Behind Forensics

If you ask me, more science can't hurt any field, including that of forensics.

For those who are interested in forensics, ForensicLinks is a great online reference tool.

Cat Blog Friday

For this Cat Blog Friday...

... a teacher cat who wants silence in the class while he grades Obama...

No Laughing!
No Gum Chewing!
No Passing Notes!
No Cell Phones!

Happy Friday everybody!

Grade Obama

I don't know if they will report the votes accurately or not...

VOTE NOW: The CNN National Report Card: Second 100 Days

Shucks, there was no grade lower than an 'F'.

No Joking Matter

Obama Joker Posters Popping Up In Los Angeles

I'm not understanding this Obama as the Joker thing...

If anything it should be Obama as Pinocchio and it could also read 'LIAR'.

I do think this would make a great cover of Time magazine.

Heartbreak

Lottery Winner Loses His $500,000 Ticket

Could you ever get over doing something like this?

I don't think I could.